Enjoy an enchanted evening with multi-media artist / sculptor Crazy Al Evans and his new limited edition ceramics, artist proofs, new art and special guests! This event celebrates the ten-year anniversary of Evans' Tikis #11, 12 and 13. To commemorate these primordial sculptures in the Crazy AL Tiki Gallery, a new ceramic creation will be debuted at this event. A decanter design of Tiki #12,"Hula Lover, will be sold in a numbered edition in the very room the same tiki was first presented to the public at the Copro/Nason Tiki Art Show of September 19, 1998. Sculpted by Evans to match the original in every detail, the piece is also proportional to its partner Tiki #13 mug. Evans will also introduce a candle-holder miniature of Tiki #11, "Tiki Lantern’” Limited sets of all three designs with be available as well. Evans has once again pushed the envelope and stretched his imagination with the introduction of Tiki #12, "Hula Lover Carafe," which will hold a lightable tiki-torch just like the original! Evans continued to lead the way with more developments in his personal quest for originality. Be there for the re-lighting ceremony of Tiki #12 as Dancer Tahini ignites the celebration with the exotic music of the Tikiyaki Orchestra.

CRAZY AL EVANSCrazy Al Evans is a Southern California based multi-media artist who has been carving, sculpting and painting tiki imagery since 1990. Nicknamed for his fun and enthusiastic antics, the name also suits him for his manic and detailed carving. Evans’ Polynesian Pop-inspired sculptures can be found from Hawaii to New York. Through his one-man company, Bone Productions, his limited-edition tiki-inspired resins and mugs can be found worldwide. Paying tribute to the original Polynesian artisans from the South Pacific as well as majestic cultural icons of primitive cultures, Evans brands his art with unique craftsmanship and extreme attention to detail, giving each one of his creations meaning and importance and avoiding the use of cartoon imagery and bright colors. His palm sculpts, velvet paintings, dioramas, hardwood carvings, utilitarian objects (such as lamps and cabinets) and environmental installations are an exciting mix of authentic design and modern concepts.

Born in 1967, Evans grew up in the Scottsdale area of Phoenix, AZ surrounded by the ever-present Polynesian-Pop of the era, and claims his dad's collection of Native American art, namely Hopi Kachina Dolls, as a major inspiration on his own art. Greatly inspired by the primitive arts, his tiki sculptures always have a specific propose by paying tribute to a particular person, thing, event or activity.

Evans graduated from the prestigious Art Center College of Design, but is self-taught in the art of carving. He works almost exclusively with palm wood, using each dramatically different layer to help create the complexities in his designs. Exalting the once living tree, Evans leaves the bark on his finished piece. The manipulation of its complex texture gives even more depth and detail to each sculpture. Since 1996, Evans has carved around 150 tikis each assigned a number. In 2004, Evans began making limited mugs in his "Crazy Al Tiki Gallery Line of Ceramic Editions" for which he sculpts exact replicas of his large tikis in miniature.Evans is also the front man of the band Ape who perform a rousing set of classic Hawaiian sounds using steel guitars and ukulele with guitars, bass and drums. During their enchanting sets, Evans plays percussion with an axe and a log, carving a tiki in the process! Of course the tikis carved during Ape's set look much simpler than the works that take him 45-100 hours from start to finish. However, these sculpts created in as little as 45 minutes contain the energies of the event from which they were created; they have an individual striking presence all their own.

Crazy Al Evans also does commercial work, sculpting toys for Warner Brothers, Disney, Lucas/Star Wars as well as installations for several establishments such as The Tahiti Restaurant in Hollywood, Kona Club in Oakland, Ka Hale Tiki in Georgia, Lucky Tiki Bar in Los Angeles, Bigfoot Lodge in San Francisco and the Puka Bar in Long Beach. Crazy Al Evans has recently been spotlighted carving tikis on the Discovery Channel 's "Dude Room " and the TV Guide Channel 's "Ready Set Change" as well as many You-Tube videos, and has worked in charity raising money for Hurricane Katrina victims, National Stroke Association and the Honolulu Marathon. Evans currently resides in Sunset Beach, California.

Caia Koopman - Eternal VeritiesTaking her inspirations from nature, dreams, and politics, Caia Koopman wishes nature was more empowered to fight human's concrete landscape in real life, and portrays that in her art using acrylic on canvas and wood as her media. “My philosophy behind this body of work is that there is a strained relationship between nature, humanity and femininity. Nature and femininity have a huge presence in my art. Not only is nature beautiful and strong, but simultaneously fragile as are my female characters. I want to provide a message through my paintings that humanity needs to support and nurture nature and educate and give equal rights to women throughout the world. Both are vitally important to the environment, which sustains us and our very existence, and to the future of humanity on this planet.” states Koopman. Her paintings have been used commercially by major companies such as Rossignol, K2, Morrow and Hyperlite for many years, appearing as graphics for snowboards, skateboards, and wakeboards. Her artwork has also been featured in mainstream print such as Surfing Girl, Mademoiselle, Details, Girl's Life, Snowboarder Magazine, Teen, Teen Style, Teen People, J-14, Fine, and others. Koopman designed T-shirt graphics and promotional illustrations for many companies, such as: Roxy, Hurley, Volcom, Op, AT&T, and Casio. Koopman has also been featured "MTV Sports" as an athlete/artist for her snowboarding and painting and has shown her paintings in a number of galleries around the world. She is currently working as a freelance illustrator and painter in Oceanside, CA. Artist www.caiakoopman.com

Mark Gleason Mark Gleason’s figurative oil on canvas pieces all share a common theme: the protagonists have relationships with an animal ‘familiar.’ “I have a resonance with solitary places, particular animals and to the human figure. My painting is shaped by film and music, as well as by psychology, philosophy and literature. I enjoy the private act of painting as well as the public process of teaching art,” states Gleason who grew up in Connecticut, received a BFA in Studio Arts from Syracuse University in 1984, and later earned a Masters Degree in Art Education in 1989. He has shown in numerous galleries across the country and has continuously been in group shows at La Luz de Jesus since 2005. Gleason currently teaches art and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Erika, and their bull terrier, Laika. www.markgleason.net

PAUL ZONE has a background that took in all that was cool, all that was cutting edge about New York City in the 1970s. He is New York through and through. His two older brothers started to take him to concerts by the age of 11. He'd always make sure to have his square box Brownie camera with him. He saw Bowie premier Ziggy Stardust at Carnegie Hall, Iggy & The Stooges at the Electric Circus in 1971, the first ever performances by The New York Dolls at the Mercer Arts Center and was the youngest boy let into the back room of Max's Kansas City during the tail end of the Warhol Factory era.

Zone was friends with members of Blondie and The Ramones before their bands were even formed. By 1973 his brothers already had their own band called The Fast, and Paul, being so young, wasn't considered to be a member. Paul concentrated on taking photographs of his nights out at concerts, clubs and parties around town. He shot the first photo session of Blondie as a five piece band, did portraits of friends and worked as a photographer along side Lance Loud on his writing assignments for Circus Magazine, Rock Scene and Andy Warhol's Interview.

1972 to 1977 was a transitional time in New York City style & music. Glam was over and the word Punk describing the local bands had not yet been used. In 1975 Debbie Harry and Lance Loud suggested to Paul's brothers to have him as a member of The Fast. With Paul as the lead singer they were a headlining act right from the start at Max's Kansas City and CBGB from 1976 on. Spin Magazine names "Kids Just Wanna Dance" by The Fast as one of the "Top 20 Singles of 1977.”

drkrm. Gallery is an exhibition space dedicated to fine art and documentary photography, cutting edge and alternative photographic processes and the display and survey of popular cultural images. Gallery events are free and open to the public.

Travis Shinn has shot covers, editorial and fashion for such magazines as Scratch, Alternative Press, Rides, Blender, Stuff, Guitar World and King. He created the artwork for Tool’s Grammy winning album “10,000 DAYS.” He has had the pleasure of working with an array of legendary groups and musicians such as Dave Navarro, Tom Morello, Slash, Megadeath, The Misfits, Marilyn Manson, System of a Down, Ozzy Ozborne, Korn, Zakk Wylde, Snoop Dogg, Nas and 50 Cent just to mention a few.

Born in the brooding Southern California desert, Travis Shinn’s photographic career began when he photographed the Grand Canyon with his first camera at the tender age of six. In between stealing his parents’ cars and the occasional stint in juvie, where he had his finger in fame by thirteen, Travis learned photography from his stepmother, who was the editor of Photographic Magazine. He studied photography and painting at the Los Angeles High School for the Arts and the San Francisco Art Institute. When asked what he likes most about taking photos, he replies, “Meeting new people.” Travis’s work reflects this honesty and genuine interest in his subject.

drkrm. Gallery is an exhibition space dedicated to fine art and documentary photography, cutting edge and alternative photographic processes and the display and survey of popular cultural images. Gallery events are free and open to the public.

Los Angeles, CA—Aimee Mann has collaborated with critically acclaimed visual artist Gary Taxali on her 7th solo release @#\%&! Smilers, to be released on June 3, 2008 on her own SuperEgo Records. Taxali has contributed 17 original illustrations for the packaging of the CD, art directed by Aimee Mann and Gail Marowitz, and designed by Marowitz and Ed Sherman. Los Angeles art gallery La Luz De Jesus will host a CD release party and one night showing of the 17 new artworks on May 31st from 6-9pm. Both Taxali and Mann will be present to sign copies of the new CD.

Gary Taxali is an award-winning illustrator who has worked for such clients as Rolling Stone, Time, Esquire and The New York Times. His work has received recognition from Graphis, Communication Arts, American Illustration, Print, SPD, a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators, a Gold Medal from the National Addys and a nomination for a Cannes Lion. He is a Founding Member of IPA (The Illustrators' Partnership of America) and sits on the Advisory Board of 3x3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration. Gary's latest toy figures, "Oh No" and Oh Oh", were mass produced by his new company, Chump Inc. His first children's book, which he wrote and illustrated, "This Is Silly", is being published by Scholastic and slated for a summer 2009 release. This summer, he will be having his first major show in Europe at "Iguapop Gallery" in Barcelona, Spain. Taxali lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

Aimee Mann has long championed visual artists, collaborating with them to create her work-of-art CD packages. In 2003 she teamed with literary comic book writer and artist Seth who illustrated her CD Lost In Space. In 2006 Aimee Mann and Gail Marowitz won a Grammy award for Best Recording Package for their work on Mann’s Forgotten Arm, illustrated by painter Owen Smith, a five time cover artist for the New Yorker.

After originally breaking onto the music scene during the 80’s leading the post-new wave pop group ’Til Tuesday, Aimee Mann has gone on to establish herself as one of the most prominent singer-songwriters of her generation. Her successful solo career has spanned across several critically acclaimed albums, including the massively popular soundtrack for the film Magnolia, which garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Song in 2000. Time magazine has said of her, “Mann has the same skill that great tunesmiths like McCartney and Neil Young have: the knack for writing simple, beautiful, instantly engaging songs.” Aimee will be touring throughout the summer and fall in support of Smilers.